Sellschaft



E. OSTMEYER CASH REGISTER Filed May 21. 1927 May 2, 1933.

Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDUABD OSTMEYER, 0F ESSEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNO R T0 FRIED. KR'UPP mmnen- SELLSCHAFT, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-IRUHR, GERMANY CASH REGISTER Application filed May 21, 1927, Serial No. 193,185, and in Germany May 29, 1926,

This invention relates to cash registers which record items composed of two or more numeral indications, such as, money value, weight, and consecutive number. In known cash registers of this type several groups of setting means are provided for, by which the individual indications of an item can be introduced simultaneously so that a composite item can be recorded in one sole operation of the machine. This type of machine, however, is very complicated and expensive due to the great structural extension of the setting and differentially actuating mechanism. Now the object of the present invention is to provide, in a cash register having a setting mechanism of the type which permits the introduction of only one numeral indication in each operation of the machine, a construction which allows composlte items to be recorded in areliable manner. To secure this end, the individual numeral indications are recorded, according to this invention, by successive operations of the machine, one setting mechanism serving to introduce them, and a determined order of the operations belonging to one item being enforced by a mechanism controlling the release of the setting means for said individual operations of the machine.

In order that the invention can be more easily understood, a preferred embodiment of the same is illustrated in the drawing which accompanies this specification and forms part thereof, the drawing showing the elements in consideration in a lateral view.

On a shaft 1, mounted in a side wall of the machine, is mounted a double lever 2, 3 the rear arm 2 of which co-operates with a return pin 4. The latter is carried by-an arm 5 of an operating shaft 6 which has imparted to it one revolution in counter-clockwise direction in each operation of the machine. Beside the forward arm 3 of double lever 2, 3 is mounted a. slide 7 that embraces shaft 1 and so engages by a pin 8 a slot 9 of arm 3 that it partakes of the swing motion of double lever 2, 3, but can be shifted radially relatively toshaft 1.

A forked'extension 10 of double lever 2, 3 embraces a pin 11 of an arm 12 of a hollow shaft 13, the latter carryin on its other end a type roller (not shown) liaving two signs or types, viz. Nr and fi Pin 11 is connected by a link 14 to an arm 15 of a toothed segment 17 mounted on a journal 16. This segment is permanently in mesh by toothed segments 18, 19, 20 with an indicating roller 22 mounted on a shaft 21. Roller 22 carries the signs or characters Nr and like the type roller mentioned, which can be read off through the peep hole 23.

A roller 37 of an arm 39 mountedon a shaft 38 co-operates with the forward end of slide 7. Shaft 38 has imparted to it one revolution in clockwise direction in each operation of the machine. I

In the present embodiment of the invention items are to be recorded composed of a number (Nr) and a value According to the two operations required therefor, two special keys 40 and 41 are provided which carry the characters Nr and These keys co-operate in well known manner with a key locking rocker 42. If by depressing one of the keys 40, 41 the rocker 42 is rocked upward, a locking lever 44, loose on shaft 38 and acted upon by a spring 43, springs under a projection 45 of rocker 42 and holds the latter and the depressed key in the set position. At the end of the operation of the machine a releasing shaft 46 has imparted to it a rocking motion in counter-clockwise direction. When this takes 48 of locking lever 44 whereby the key locking rocker 42 and the depressed key are released to return to position of rest.

In order to enforce the setting ofone of the special keys in every operation of the machine, these keys are so blocked with the ordinary amount keys that the latter are-unable to be set unless one of the special keys 40, 41 previously has been depressed. For this purpose the locking rocker 42 of the special keys has an extension 49 on the rear narrow side of which a pin 50 of an arm 51 fast on a shaft 52 abuts under the action of a spring 53. Another arm 54 fast on shaft 52 is hinged to a locking slide 56 guided on a shaft Shaft 55 has rigidly mounted on it a strap 57, abutting under the action of a spring on the extension 58 of a locking rocker 29, intended to lock the amount keys (not shown) as indicated by dot and dash lines. If one of the s ecial keys has been depressed, a recess 59 of slide 56 is opposite strap 57. In this case the amount keys are able to be depressed, this depression causing a rearward rocking motion of extension 58. If no special key 40, 41 has been depressed, slide 56 is in a position in which a ug 60 arrives behind the cross portion of strap 57 and locks it against rearward rocking and therewith the amount keys against being depressed.

The stem of key 41 carries a pin 61 which engages a slot 62 of a double lever 63, 64 loose on releasing shaft 46. Arm 64 of this lever embraces by a slot 65 the above-mentioned pin 8 of slide 7. If key 41 has not been depressed, the forward end of slide 7 is out of the path of roller 37. Arm 64 of double lever 63, 64 further carries a pin which is connected to a double lever 73, 74 by another double lever 71, 72 mounted on shaft 1. Arm 73 of double lever 73, 74 abuts on a pin 75 of arm 72 while arm 74 is intende to co-operate by means of a roller 76 with a ooved disk 77 fast, on shaft 38. Double ever 73, 74 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 78 which influences the throw-in mechanism (not shown) for the totalizing mechanism of the machine. A pin 80 fast on shaft 78 projects into a recess 79 of double lever 73, 74 whereby the swing motion of the latter is limited relatively to shaft 78 in both directions. The curved groove 81 of disk 77 has a recess 82 which permits the roller 76 to enter or leave groove 81. On its right-hand side, recess 82 is bounded by a suitable inclined face 83.

By depressin key 41 the double lever 73, 74 has imparte to it by means of levers 63, 64 and 71, 72, a ro motion in clockwise direction whereby. roller 76 enters the recess 82 and the lower side wall of recess 79 abuts on pin 80 of-shaft 78, as illustrated. When, with the roller 76 in this position, disk 77 is rotated, its inclined face 83 strikes the roller 76 and introduces it in the curved groove 81 which causes the further rocking of double lever 73, 74. When this takes place, the latter carries shaft 78 with it through the intermediary of pin 80 and causes thereby the totalizer mechanism to come into operative connection with the differential means.

A locking plate 85 is swingingly mounted on a ournal 84 between the special keys 40, 41. On a pin 86 of this plate is attached a spring 87 the other end of which is fixed on a pin 88 of an arm 89 rigid on journal 84-. Plate 85 has a locking face 90 which is bounded b two lateral faces 91, 92 subsiding into a utting faces 93, 94, The pin 61 of key 41 and a pin 95 of key 40 co-operate with locking plate 85. The journal 84 is rotatably mounted in the machine frame. An arm 96 carrying a setting knob 97 is rigidly mounted on journal 84 and projects beyond the machine frame beside the keys 40, 41. The knob 97 can be set in three positions in which pin 88 assumes the positions denoted by I, II, III in the drawing. Position I corresponds to the introduction of composite items, position II to that of values, and position III to that of consecutive num bers.

1 The described mechanism operates as folows:

It may be assumed that the setting knob 97 takes the medium position shown in the drawing which corresponds to the record of composite items. In the position of rest of the machine, that is before the record of an item, key 41 is in undepressed position, double lever 63, 64 is in a position in which it is out of the position shown by a certain angle in counter-clockwise direction. Consequently slide 7 is shifted so far toward shaft 1 that its free end is out of the path of roller 37, while double lever 7 3, 74 is turned to such an extent in counter-clockwise direction that its roller 76 is 'not engaged by the inclined face 83 upon disk 77 rotating. Pin 61 of key 41 takes the position denoted at 98. The locking rocker 42 takes its downwardly rocked position so that its extension 49 permits the lug 60 of locking slide 56, through the intermediary of pin 50 and arm 51, to engage the eross bar of strap 57 from behind, whereby the amount keys are locked. The other arts of the mechanism assume the ositions i lustrated. Double lever 2, 3 and lndicating roller 22 positively connected thereto, and type wheel assume the position Nr, therefore the character Nr is opposite the peep hole 23 and the rinting line of the printing mechanism. The locking plate 85 of the special keys abuts on pin 95 of key 40 due to the pull of spring 87 which extends in the space below the axis of journal 84. whilst the locking face 90 of plate 85 lies behind key pin 61, assuming position 98, and locks key 41 against being depressed. Of the two keys only key 40 is released, while the amount keys and key 41 are locked. Upon depressing key 40 the release of the amount keys takes place in the described manner by the locking effect of parts 57, 60 being suppressed. By depressing key 40 further the locking face 90 is rocked, as pin 95 of key 40 takes with it the stop face" 94. When this takes place, the axis of spring 87 arrives in a direction extending above the axis of journal 84, whereby locking plate 85 is now influenced by spring 87 in the other rocking direction and abuts with face 93 on pin 61 assuming position 98, In the depressed position pin 95 engages the recess formed by the faces 92 and 94 of plate 85.

\Vhen, after the amount keys corresponding to the number of the item to be recorded have been set, the machine is tripped, no action is exerted upon the parts of the described setting mechanism for the indicating and printing device, as roller 76, arm 2 and slide 7 are out of mesh with the actuating members 83, 4, 37. The indicating roller and the appurtenant type roller thus remain set to the character Nr, the numerals introduced by the amount keys thus are printed together with the character Nr. A transmission of the set amount to the totalizing mechanism however does not take place as l he latter remains out of operation.

At the end of the operation of the machine the set keys are released together with the rocker 42, the locking of the amount keys thus being restored by the members 57, 60. Upon the return of the released special key 40, pin 95 pushes the face 92 aside. The amplitude thus imparted to plate 85 is, however, so small that the direction of spring 87 remains in the space above journal 84, so that plate 85 returns in clockwise direction and its locking face 90 arrives behind pin 95 whereby key 40 is locked against being depressed. Thus at the end of this operation of the machine all keys are locked except special key 41.

Upon depressing special key 41 to prepare the setting manipulation for the next operation of the machine, double lever 63, 64 arrives in the position illustrated due to the action of pin 61 in slot 62. This causes, as shown, the roller 76 of double lever 73, 74 to enter the recess 82 of curved disk 77 and the forward end of slide 7 to arrive in the path of roller 37. Now when the operation of the machine is released after depression of the amount keys corresponding to the value to be recorded, the inclined face 83 strikes roller 76 and causes it to enter groove 81. After.

the pin 4 has assed arm 2, leaving it unacted upon, rol er 37 strikes slide 7 and imparts to it and to the double lever 2, 3 a

rocking motion about shaft 1 whereby the indicating roller 22 positively connected to the lever 2, 3, and the appurtenant type roller are changed over from position Nr to position Thereu on the totalizer mechanism is thrown-in y the shaft 78 which is rocked by means of curved disk 77, the set value is printed andtransmitted to the totalizer mechanism, and the latter is a ain uncoupled by shaft 78 being turned 'bac by means of curved disk 77. As in the first operation of the machine at the end of this operation the release of the depressed keys and the locking of the amount keys by parts 57, 60 takes place. Upon the special key 41 returning from the position shown to position of rest, pin 61 arrives again in position 98 by pushing aside the face 91 of plate 85 without displacing the direction of spring 87 into the space above the axis of journal 84. Hence face 90 arrives behind pin 61 assuming position 98 and locks it and therewith key 41 against being depressed. Except double lever 2, 3 and the parts connected therewith, all parts of the mechanism assume now the same position as they were in before the first operation of the machine. At the beginning of the next operation the throwing-over of lever 2, 3 the indicating roller and the printing roller takes place from position to position Nr, no matter whether special key 40 or 41 has been depressed, by the pin 4 returning arm 2 which had been raised in the preceding operation. As can be seen from the foregoing, a special difi'erential member influenced by the two keys 40, 41 is dispensed with in the difierential mechanism positioning the indicating and printing roller.

In case only values are to be recorded instead of composite items, the setting knob 97 is set to its lowermost position, whereby pin 88 arrives in position II and the direction of sprin 87 is displaced into the space above the axis of pin 84, no matter which position pin 86 was in. The locking face 90 then engages behind pin 95 and locks key 40, while key 41 is released. WVith knob 97 in this position, as many successive value introducing operations can be executed as desired. After termination of each of these operations double lever 2, 3 and the parts connected thereto are in position During the individual operations double lever 2, 3 is first changed over in the described manner by arm 5 to position Nr and then, since key 41.is being depressed, returned to position by arm 39. In each operation the totalizing mechanism is brought into operative connection with the differential members so that the introduced amounts are trans mitted to the totalizing mechanism.

If only numbers are to be recorded in several succeeding operations, knob 97 is changed over to upper position, whereby pin 88 arrives in position III and the direction of spring 87 extends in the space below the axis of 'ournal 84. In this case key 40 is permanently in released position and key 41 in locked condition. During these operations double lever 2, 3 and the arts connected thereto remain in osition Nr, without a changing over taking place during the individual operations.

The described mechanism may further bev so constructed that key 40 instead of key 41 causes the change over of lever 2, 3 and that besides or instead of the totalizing mechanism other mechanisms of the machine are influenced in different manner in the individual operations of the machine. The keys 40, 41 or one of them can be barred in known manner by means of a special key lock,

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the class described: two keys, a rock lever mounted between said two keys, a pin on each of said keys, a locking face arranged on said lever and ada to co-operate with said two pins, two ockmg arms and two recesses arranged on said lever, each of said arms and recesses adapted to cooperate with one of said pins, a spring at tached to said lever and adapted to hold it in one of its two end positions, whereby one of said keys is locked by said locking face and the other is released, said recesses and locking arms being so arranged that when the released key is depressed, its pin rocks said lever by means of the respectivelocking arm, the other key being released by its looking face but locked by the other locking arm, and means for returning the depressed key to position of rest at the end of the operation of the machine.

2. In a machine of the class described: two keys, a rock lever adapted to co-operate w th said keys to alternately lock them, a spring attached to said lever, a rockable arm, a pin on said arm, the other end of said spring being fixed to said pin, said pin being so arranged that in the medium position of said lever the line of direction of said sprin passes through the fulcrum of said lever, an means for so rocking said arm that said lever is influenced by said spring in one or the other rocking direction.

3. A machine as specified in claim 2 in which is provided a journal, said lever and said arm being mounted thereon, a second arm adapted to adjust said pin in two end positions causing the spring to act in accordance therewith in one rocking direction, and in a medium position causing the spring to act in double rocking direction.

4. In a machine of the class described, two keys and locking means for said keys comprising a rock lever mounted between and cooperating with said keys so that upon the depression of one of said keys the other is looked, a spring co-operating with said lever so as to hold the same in either of its end positions and a locking face on said lever which is moved bydepression of either key, to position to block the key depressed against repeated depression, whereby alternate depression of said keys is enforced.

5. In a machine of the class described, two keys, a rock lever having its fulcrum between said keys, a pin on one of said keys, an arm on said lever below said pin, a spring attached to said lever urging said arm a ainst said pin, a locking face on said lever, a ace bounding said locking face adapted to arrive above said pin upon the depression of said firstnamed key, said spring being further adapted to cause said locking face, upon the depressed key returning to position of rest, to

arrive below said pin and lock said firstnamed key against depression, a second arm on said lever, a second face bounding said locking face, the second of said keys being adapted to co-operate with said lever in the same manner as said first-named key, so that both keys can be depressed only alternately and are locked alternately after return to position of rest.

6. In a machine of the class described, two keys and locking means for said keys comprising a rock lever mounted between and cooperating with said keys so that upon the depression of one of said keys the other is locked, a spring attached at one end to said lever and at its other end to an external point, the

relationship of said spring to the fulcrum of said lever being such that the line of force of said spring travels across said fulcrum upon rocking said lever and the latter is held in both of its end positions, and means for so changing the line of force of said spring that said lever is always returned to the same end position.

7. In a machine of the class described, two keys and locking means for said keys comprising a rock lever mounted between and co-operating with said keys so that upon the depression of one of said keys the other is locked, and an adjustable spring adapted to co-operate in one position of adjustment with said lever to hold the same in either end position, said spring being adapted in another position of adjustment to urge said lever continuously to one end position only.

8. The combination with a machine as specified in claim 1, an adjustable member, one end of said spring being secured thereto, means for displacing said member to hold said lever in one end position by said spring, whereby one of said keys is permanently locked by the respective locking face and the other of said keys is released.

9. In a machine of the class described having a single group of differentially actuated mechanisms, two keys for controlling signs, locking means arranged between said keys, and an adjustable control means for said locking means adapted in one adjusted position to control the alternative depression of said keys for subsequent machine operations each involving said single group of differentially actuated mechanism and in its other adjusted positions to release only one of saidkeys for consecutive operation.

10. In a machine of the class described, two keys, each of said keys being depressible, locking means for said keys comprising a unitary locking lever having two, normal positions. said locking lever in one of said positions having direct locking engagement with one of said keys and in the other of said positions, direct locking engagement with the other of said keys, and connections whereby said locking lever is set by depression of either key to lock the key depressed against depression, upon its return to position of rest.

11. In a machine of the class described, two keys, each of said keys being depressible, locking means for said keys comprising a unitary locking lever having two normal positions, said locking lever in one of said positions having direct locking engagement with one of said keys and in the other of said positions, direct locking engagement with the other of said keys, connections whereby said locking lever is set by depression of either key to lock the key depressed against depression, upon its return to position of rest, said locking means including interlocks for preventing depression of more than one of said keys at a time.

12. In a machine of the class described, a key, said key being depressible, a spring influenced locking lever having two normal positions, a locking face on said lever having direct locking engagement with said key adapted to lock said key against depression in one normal position of said locking lever. and connections whereby depression of said key causes said lever to move from the other normal position to said key locking position, said key being adapted to ratchet past said locking face upon returning to position of rest and to thereupon become locked in position of rest.

13. A machine having a single group of differentially actuated mechanisms for setting up a plurality of indications for each transaction registered in the machine. means for controlling one of said indications, a second means for controlling another of said indications, locking means for said controlling means, and connections between said locking means and said controlling means so constructed as to cause said locking means to release said controlling means for operation in a compulsory predetermined sequence in consecutive machine operations each involving said single group of differentially actuated mechanisms.

14. A machine having a single group of differentially actuated mechanisms for setting up a plurality of indications for each transaction registered in the machine. means for controlling one of said indications, a second means for controlling another of said indications, locking means for said controlling means, connections between said locking means and said controlling means so constructed as to cause said locking means to release said controlling means in a predetermined sequence in consecutive machine operations each involving said single group of differ'entially actuated mechanisms, and manipulative means for adjusting said connections to render only one of said controlling means operable during consecutive operations of the machine.

nections being so constructed that they may be conditioned to permit one of said controlling means to be continuously operable in consecutive operations of the machine and another of said controlling means to be continuously non-operable.

16. In a machine of the class described having a single group of differentially actuated mechanisms, a plurality of keys, locking means for said keys, and connections between said keys and said locking means so constructed as to cause said locking means to release said keys for depression in a compulsory predetermined sequence from their position of rest in consecutive machine operations,

each involving said single group of differentially actuated mechanisms.

17. In a machine of the class described having a single group of differentially actuated mechanisms, a plurality of keys, locking means for said keys, connections between said keys and said locking means so constructed as to cause said locking means to release said keys for depression in a compulsory predetermined sequence in consecutive machine operations, each involving said single group of differentially actuated mechanisms, and manipulative means for adjusting said connections to release one of said keys for depression during consecutive operations of the machine.

18. In a machine of the class described having a single grou of differentially actuated mechanisms, a p urality of keys, locking means for said keys, connections between said keys and said locking means so constructed as to cause said locking means to release said keys for depression in a compulsory predetermined sequence in consecutive machine operations, and means for adjusting said connections to permit one key tobe continuously depressible in successive machine operations and another to be continuously non-depressible.

19. In a machine of the class described having a single group of differentially actuated mechanisms for setting up a plurality of different classes of numerical values, a plurality of keys for controlling the registration of signs indicating the classes of said numerical values, locking means for said keys, and connections between said keys and said locking means for enforcing a compulsory sequential release and locking of said keys for registering said signs in consecutive machine operations.

20. In a machine of the class described having a single group of difierentially actuated mechanisms for setting up a plurality of different classes of numerical values, a plurality of keys for controlling the registration of signs indicating the classes of said numerical values, locking means for said keys, connections between said keys and said locking means for enforcing a com ulsory sequential release and locking of said keys for registering said signs in consecutive machine operations, and manipulative means for adjusting said connections to release one of said ke s for depression to register the correspon ing sign in consecutive machine operations.

21. In a machine of the class described having a single group of difierentially actuated mechanisms for setting up a plurality of difierent classes of numerical values, a plurality of keys for controlling the registration of signs indicating the classes of said numerical values, locking means for said keys, connections between said keys and said locking means for enforcing a compulsory sequential release and locking of said keys for registering said signs in consecutive ma.- chine operations, and manipulative means for adjusting said connections to release one of said keys for depression to register the corresponding sign in consecutive machine operations, and to continuously block against depression another one of said keys.

22. In a machine of the class describe having a single group of differentially actuated mechanisms for setting up a-plurality of different classes of numerical values, a plurality of keys for controlling the registration of signs indicating the classes of said numerical values, means for locking said keys against depression, connections between said keys and said locking means for enforcing a compulsory sequential release and looking of said keys for registering said signs in consecutive machine operations, and means for returning the selectivel depressed key to position of rest at the en of each machine operation.

The foregoing specification signed at Cologne, Germany, this 2nd day of May,

EDUARD OSTMEYER. 

